The Reflective Teacher Podcast

Lindsey Elliott and Marthe Weil
  • 4.9 (15)
  • COURSES
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Guest experts share personal stories of struggles, successes, and growth with encouraging ah-ha moments for teachers.

  1. The Importance of Play: TIP Mini Episode

    10/24/2021

    The Importance of Play: TIP Mini Episode

    Episode Notes: Truth: Play creates children who have strong adaptive skills and creativity.  Inquiry/Prompt: Closely watch/observe your students’ engage in play today. Pick one designated open-ended play area (i.e. blocks, kitchen, dress-up area) and observe for a good amount of time. What are the skills that the children are learning through this play? (Social, emotional, early literacy or math concepts, etc…) What are some ways the children are adapting?  What creativity do you see through their play?   Did you notice any play schemas? (see resources below for a list) What do you notice about the way they are using the materials? Or not using the materials Use your observations to document learning or simply to share with parents! Did this observation spark a study in your class? Resources: Play Schemas Our Sponsors: Playground JUF

    15 min

  2. 10/17/2021

    Being a Mentor Teacher in Early Childhood Education

    Show Notes: The goal of a mentor: help teacher becomes best/effective new teacher Be a sounding board for the teacher Brainstorm and problem solve with the teacher Allow the teacher to reflect on their classroom by taking a step back A mentor is a sounding board and active listener. JNTP (Jewish New Teacher Project) has outlined ways to support teachers as a mentor. They provide a ‘cheat sheet’ for ways to respond and language to use when mentoring teachers! (i.e. “selective scripting” and “entry points”) You want teachers to feel comfortable and take risks! Make sure the mentor/mentee relationship is not too interwoven outside of the mentorship. Who can be a mentor at JNTP? Any effective teacher that has been teaching for at least five years. How do teachers who want to mentor or need a mentor sign up with JNTP? Ask your administrator/director if you need a mentor! (govt. funding is available if your program can’t afford) Tell you administrator/director you’d like to apply as a mentor if qualified and they will sign you up! All of the skills are helpful in any leadership role. Bottom line: when teachers don’t get the support they need, they leave teaching and we need good teachers. Resources: Jewish New Teacher Project Our Sponsors: Playground JUF

    28 min
  3. How to Show Up for Yourself (and Your Students)

    10/10/2021

    How to Show Up for Yourself (and Your Students)

    Teacher Take-Aways Unconscious Thoughts and How to Take Action: Assume Intent: These assumptions get in our way and are usually negative. We typically assume the worst. Take Action: Give people good intentions! Magnifying: Make things seem bigger than they really are. Take Action: step back and don’t show up with panic. Labeling: We label kids and ourselves. Our brains naturally label things we don’t understand because it feels safe. Take Action: Think of things less in terms of deficits and labels and more from a strength-based perspective! Pay attention to your physical self as well as your feelings/emotions. Self-Regulation Tip: name what you’re feeling (emotion) and then literally do something physical (shout, silly shake, deep breaths, jumps) to get the feeling out! This looks messy but the physical expression of our feelings is what regulates us! Become familiar with what is setting you off/triggering you. Make this your homework to work on. Model for your children what it’s safe to feel our feelings and that they don’t last. It’s OK to sit with them as well; they will pass. Resources mentioned in episode: BrookeLynne Dukes Coaching Our Sponsors: Playground JUF

    52 min
  4. Makerspace Basics for Early Childhood Classrooms

    10/03/2021

    Makerspace Basics for Early Childhood Classrooms

    Take-Aways Find a space (corner/shelf/tray) to designate as your makerspace. Think about safety/rules you’ll share/model for your students. Fasteners to gather: tape (masking, duct, scotch, washi), glue (wood, elmer’s, tacky), staples. Collect materials: Recycled materials (cardboard, egg cartons, plastic bottles) Home Depot buys (hardware stores will often give scraps and leftovers to teachers, just ask!)  Beads Yarn/string/ribbon Rocks, seashells (natural materials) Paper clips, wire  Rubber bands Old cd’s and records Start small/simple with just a few materials and one fastener. Don’t forget to observe your choldren and add/modify as they go! Skills used while creating: fine and gross motor, math, design thinking, flexibility, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, to name a few! Resources Referenced in the Interview Kodo Kids Zero Landfill Facebook Woodwork in the Early Years by Pete Moorehouse (free download) Our Sponsors: Playground AJU

    32 min
  5. Occupational Therapy in Early Childhood

    09/26/2021

    Occupational Therapy in Early Childhood

    Check out our sponsors:  Playground AJU Show Notes: To learn more about Leah and her work, visit Hiller Therapy and follow her on Instagram for tips you can do at school (or home) and upcoming workshops! Teacher Takeaways: What does Occupational Therapy cover exactly? Think: How do kids spend their time? (So basically everything ;) Categories OT looks at Fine motor, gross motor, sensory processing, visual motor skills, executive functioning to name a few… The purpose of OT is FUNCTION. We want children to function in all spaces of life. The goal isn’t just to get a child to ‘typical’ but rather to change that child’s trajectory. A big piece of OT is also the environment. If three or more of your students are struggling, check the environment and change things, if needed. All opportunities they (children) can try to or do on their own will help them to grow. (Motto: Don’t open the _____ (snack bag, jar, door, etc…) for them! ;) Teachers should just observe carefully. Don’t label or assume, observe and narrate what you observe and how it’s affecting the child’s ability to function in the classroom. Use objective language. Ask parents if they notice the same thing at home. Resources Hiller Therapy Groups Workshops for Teachers Check out our sponsors:  Playground AJU

    1h 3m
  6. Policy and Advocacy in Early Childhood

    09/19/2021

    Policy and Advocacy in Early Childhood

    Teacher Takeaways Advocacy: building a sense of boldness and finding allies.” - Anna Advocates set goals and make commitments. Constantly educate yourself: Subscribe to credible sources and social media -NAEYC (policy page)  Find networks of people that also care about what you do (your field)! Put out “a call to action!” Senators, congressmen— they all need to hear from teachers! SAY: “Hi ______, we need _______ and want to thank you for ________.” Resources Referenced in the Interview Links for finding local legislatures: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/map Reach out here for one-click to write to all your reps about ECE funding! https://fyff.quorum.us/campaign/34126/ Shma Koleinu (Hear Our Voices): Click the link to learn more and join the group! The Paradigm Project Facebook Group Amy O'Leary Resources: VIDEO SLIDE DECK American Family Plan: In May, President Biden shared with the country his vision for an American Families Plan. Like the American Rescue Plan that passed in March, this new plan is revolutionary in the ways it will support families (free tuition for three- and four-year-olds, wraparound care, and tax cuts) and invest in early childhood education (teacher preparation programs and wages increases). In the months ahead, the actual text of a bill will be drafted and proposed in the Congress. This bill text will be the result of behind-the-scenes negotiations by the Biden administration, various congressional offices, and assorted advocates. We expect that the text of the plan will mirror what the White House has already proposed and that it may, as well, include select details from other ECE and families plans that have been proposed, such as the Childcare for Working Families Act, the Childcare as Infrastructure Act, and the Universal Child Care and Early Learning Act. CCDBG - fact checks + summary: Federal Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funding allows states to provide child care subsidies for low-income families with children under 13. The majority of funds serve children under 5, with the remainder supporting care for children ages 5-13 while they are not in school. These subsidies help remove barriers to affordable, high-quality child care—whether in the center- or home-based settings. Further, the law allows states to pair state and federal funds to improve access and quality of child care available to families within existing state and local systems. In this way, CCDBG plays a critical role in ensuring young children are accessing the high-quality early learning experiences that support their healthy development and prepare them for kindergarten while their parents work or attend school. Check out our sponsor, American Jewish University to find out how you can get the credentials you need to go farther in your ECE career!

  7. AMAZEworks and Persona Dolls: DEI Work for the EC Classroom

    09/12/2021

    AMAZEworks and Persona Dolls: DEI Work for the EC Classroom

    To find out more about Persona Dolls and the AMAZEworks education programs, visit the AMAZEworks website Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amazeworks, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amazeworks1996/?hl=en What is a persona doll? It’s a (life-sized) doll that is brought into a classroom and becomes a member of that class. Persona dolls share stories, advice, and problems.  Benefits of Persona Dolls: Promote social skills through interactions. Support social-emotional development through advice/problem solving/family stories. Stories for each doll are researched and culturally accurate. A curriculum guide is included with each doll. Dolls provide windows and mirrors (a way to discuss people that are like you (mirror) and those that are different (window)). Ideally, the Persona Doll isn’t the only representation of that culture in the class. Make sure there are books and other representations of the culture in your classroom so there are many voices of that culture. Don’t think you have the funds? Get creative! Start a ‘Go Fund Me’ page or another fundraiser. Persona Dolls and the healthy identities they foster are worth it!

    41 min
  8. STEM and Construction Play in EC

    09/05/2021

    STEM and Construction Play in EC

    Ann Gadzikowski: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agadzikowski LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-gadzikowski-263501132/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnGadz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anngadz/ Pinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/anngadz/ RESOURCES FROM THE SHOW: “Young Architects at Play: STEM Activities for Young Children” by Ann Gadzikowski Chicago Architecture Center LEGO website American Jewish University

    54 min
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4.9
out of 5
15 Ratings

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Guest experts share personal stories of struggles, successes, and growth with encouraging ah-ha moments for teachers.

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